Uganda launches HIV prevention program for men engaging in high-risk sexual activities
A report revealed that the Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA), which includes Kampala City, Wakiso, and Mukono districts, recorded 8,400 new HIV infections last year. Wakiso District had the highest number with 4,900 new cases, followed by Kampala with 2,800, and Mukono with 700.
The Ugandan government has introduced an innovative program to provide event-driven pre-exposure prophylaxis (ED-PrEP) to HIV-negative men who participate in infrequent but high-risk sexual encounters.
This approach involves taking two tablets before sex and one tablet daily for the next two days, offering a flexible prevention strategy that does not require continuous medication. Launched in September last year, the program has already attracted 4,000 participants.
Dr. Herbert Kadama, PrEP coordinator at the Ministry of Health, noted the program’s suitability, especially for men with occasional sexual partners. Despite Uganda’s HIV prevalence rate declining to 5.1%, challenges persist in ensuring that infected men adhere to treatment protocols.
Dr. Daniel Byamukama, head of HIV prevention at the Uganda AIDS Commission, stressed the significance of this new prevention approach, particularly in reducing HIV infections among young women. A recent survey found that 34% of men reported engaging in sexual activities outside their primary relationships, compared to 10% of women.
Byamukama also raised concerns about the low uptake of other male HIV prevention methods, such as condoms and voluntary medical male circumcision. The new program aims to fill these gaps by providing an alternative HIV prevention option that is event-based rather than continuous.
A report revealed that the Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA), which includes Kampala City, Wakiso, and Mukono districts, recorded 8,400 new HIV infections last year. Wakiso District had the highest number with 4,900 new cases, followed by Kampala with 2,800, and Mukono with 700.
Health officials have pointed to massage parlours and frequent condom shortages as significant contributors to these rising infection rates.
The ED-PrEP program marks a vital step in Uganda’s ongoing efforts to combat HIV, offering men engaging in high-risk sexual activities a tailored and convenient prevention option
